CAT Prep: Identify simple errors to boost Verbal Ability score

Identifying simple errors while going through related questions in Verbal Ability section is one of the keys to boost your CAT percentile. Some of the major concepts which will help you solve error correction questions in VA include Time & Tense. This article will bring you some problem solving tips in this section of VA.

CAT aspirants are expected to understand that Perfect tenses express the idea that we are not interested in the action but in the completed fact and its relationship to a given general time aspect.

You must take great care that the Present Perfect tense belongs to Present time and may not under any circumstances be used on an occasion notionally defined or implied as Past. Since and For are also used with Present Perfect Tense to denote from some definite time (Since)/from some indefinite time (for) in the past till now

Look at the following sentences where more than one word has been used, followed by the answers

For(A)/Since(B) the last two years, clothes have been very dear
Nobodyhasclimbedthat mountain for(A)/since(B) I went to Australia

The right answers should be- 1.A 2.B Why? Because the last two years is not a definite time period-hence use for -2. It was the fixed/definite time when I went to Australia hence since

You may find such petty errors in CAT examination. In your flow of reading, you tend to skip such small errors which result in marking an incorrect option and thereby attracting penalty leading to reduced percentile.

Avoid usage of contractions in question forms

We may write contracted forms in affirmative and negative as follows

Youve seen or Youhave seenthat movie many times. (both are correct) Youve not seen or Youhave not seenthat movie many times. (Both are correct) But, Haveyouseenthat movie many times? ( Will remain like this- you can not write Ve you seen it is a wrong structure

Avoid usage with specific time expressions You CANNOT use the Present Perfect with specific time expressions such as: yesterday, one year ago, last week, when I was a child, when I lived in Japan, at that moment, that day, one day, etc

We use the Present Perfect to say that an action happened at an unspecified time before now. The exact time is not important. We CAN use the Present Perfect with unspecific expressions such as: ever, never, once, many times, several times, before, so far, already, yet, etc.

Examples: Therehave beenmany earthquakes in California. I think Ihave methim once before. But, you can not say or write There have been many riotous incidents one year ago/when I was a child/last year/last week (All of these usage will be wrong).

Mark the difference Last year and the last year

Last year and in the last year are very different in meaning. Last year means the year before now, and it is considered a specific time which requiresSimple Past. In the last year means from 365 days ago until now. It is not considered a specific time, so it requires Present Perfect.

Examples: Ivisited Goalast year- Correct I have visited Goa last year Incorrect (Means - I visited Goa in the calendar year before this one) Ihave beento Goain the last year correct I went to Goa in the last year- incorrect. (Means I have been to Goa at least once at some point between 365 days ago and now) Avoid errors in following usage

Change over time - We often use the Present Perfect to talk about change that has happened over a period of time.

Examples: Youhave grownsince the last time I saw you. - Correct You grew/had grown/will grow since the last time I saw you- Incorrect ii) Accomplishments-We often use the Present Perfect to list the accomplishments of individuals and humanity. You cannot mention a specific time. Examples: Our sonhas learnedhow to read. correct Our son learned how to read Incorrect (But, our son learned how to read when he was in 2nd standard -correct) iii) An Uncompleted Action you are expecting-We often use the Present Perfect to say that an action which we expected has not happened. Using the Present Perfect suggests that we are still waiting for the action to happen. Examples: The budget is supposed to be presented tomorrow but the Ministerhas not finishedhis homework yet - Correct The budget is supposed to be presented tomorrow but the Ministerdid not finish/is not finishing/had not finished/will not finishhis homework yet. - Incorrect Tips on Error corrections Look at the following questions how to pick out the errors Below are given the sentences in which a part or the complete sentences have been underlined. Five options labelled A,B,C,D,E follow each question. The first (A) of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the original is the best, choose option A, else pick out the most appropriate option which, in your view expresses the best way of writing Standard English.

Question - The Minister hasnt in. He has gone to the home town again although he has gone there twice already this week. A. The Minister hasnt in. He has gone to the home town again although he has gone there twice already this week. B. The Minister hasnt been in. He goes to the home town again although he has gone there twice already this week. C. The Minister isnt in. He has gone to the home town again although he has been there twice already this week. D. The Minister hasnt been in. He went to the home town again although he has gone there twice already this week. E. The Minister isnt in. He has gone to the home town again although he went there twice already this week. 1. A 2.B 3.C 4.D 5.E Ans.3.C. The Minister isnt in. He has gone to the home town again although he has been there twice already this week. Question - Ever since the Operation Blustar, there have been much resentment and opposition from they who are of the opinion that it was not a unauthorised and unjustified use of force. A. Ever since the Operation Blustar, there have been much resentment and opposition from they who are of the opinion that it was not a unauthorised and unjustified use of force. B. Ever since the Operation Blustar, there has been much resentment and opposition from they who are of the opinion that it was not an unauthorised and unjustified use of force. C. Ever since the Operation Blustar, there have been much resentment and opposition from they who are of the opinion that it was an unauthorised and unjustified use of force. D. Ever since the Operation Blustar, there have been much resentment and opposition from those who are of the opinion that it was an unauthorised and unjustified use of force. E. Ever since the Operation Blustar, there has been being much resentment and opposition from the ones who are of the opinion that it was not unauthorised and unjustified use of force. 1.A 2.B 3.C 4.D 5.E Ans. 4.D. Ever since the Operation Blustar, there have been much resentment and opposition from those who are of the opinion that it was an unauthorised and unjustified use of force.